Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, March 12

Indonesia is undertaking a series of preparations for events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference, which are slated for April 19 to 24 in Jakarta and Bandung, an official said here on Thursday.

Indonesia Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said that as of now, leaders of 17 countries including Pakistan, Cambodia, Malaysia and Afghanistan have confirmed to attend the events. (Indonesia-Asian-African Conference)

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DHAKA -- At least four workers were confirmed dead after the roof of an under-construction cement factory building collapsed on Thursday afternoon in Bangladesh's southern Bagerhat district.

"Four workers were killed and 25 others injured, 10 critically, " Zahidur Rahman, the district's deputy police chief, told Xinhua from the accident site in Bagerhat, some 178 km south of capital Dhaka. (Bangladesh-Building Collapse)

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NEW DELHI -- India has bagged infrastructure development rights for two islands in the Indian Ocean region during the on-going tour of the region by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, local media said Thursday.

The two islands, Agalega of Mauritius and Assumption of Seychelles, are in the two nations Modi visited over the past two days. (India-Infrastructure Development)

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MANILA -- About 16,500 families or over 82,000 individuals remained affected in the continuing armed conflict in nine towns in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Thursday.

Of the affected population, 11,269 families or 56,345 persons are staying in 44 evacuation centers set up by the local government units. (Philippines-Clashes) Endi